Berry-box machine.



C. W. STEVENSON.

BERRY BOX MACHINE.

APPLIQATION rum) FEB; z, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

W By) I WMJTmn/vn m: norms PETEIB n nuom urno wAsvuNc raw 5 L Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

C. W. STEVENSON.

BERRY BOX MACHINE.

APPLICATION 1111.21) FEB.2,1914.

Patented Dec.29,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

50 lllllllfilllllll 50 1 3 I HE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON D. C

A TTORNE Y CHARLES W. STEVENSON,

OF PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON.

BERRY-BOX MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. STEVEN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1124 Third avenue southeast, Puyallup,

in the county of Pierce and State of W'ashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Berry-Box Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to machines used to manufacture small berry boxes in which berries are packed for shipping in crates.

It more particularly pertains to machines designed to form and construct berry boxes after the materials are prepared and as- 5 sembled.

The objects of my invention are, first, to form and construct complete a berry box from the materials prepared and assembled at the machine; and second, to provide a machine that will make berry boxes more economically and rapidly than by machine now in use. I attain these objects by means of the machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my invention and Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a lengthwise section showing the main operating features of my invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view looking to the left from line AA, and Fig. 5 is a lengthwise sectional view of Fig. 4 on the line BB. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view to the left from line C-C, and Fig. 7 is a lengthwise sectional view of Fig. -6 on line D D. Fig. 8 is a top view of part of the .main carrier belt and shows the several stages of operation in the makingof the boxes on the machine. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of one of the forming blocks and shows the construction of the central stems therein. Fig. 10 shows the finished box as made bottom upward on my invention.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several views. 45 The mechanism of my invention is mounted on'a frame as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The mechanism comprises a carrier belt 1 mounted on pulleys 2 and 3 to travel on horizontal lines and carry the forming blocks 4 to 15 through where the materials are formed and constructecl thereon. The first station 16 is a three sided box-like receptacle in which the thin wooden pieces designed to form the 5 bottom of the berry boxes are stacked preparatory to being delivered on the block 4 on side block 28 which and slip out the lower bottom the several stations as it passes thereunder. The second station 17 is a flat two-sided box-like receptacle in which the thin wooden strips or bands designed to make the four walls of the boxes are placed and from which they are delivered in front of the block 5 to be formed on three sides thereof. The third station 18 comprises a pair of stitching heads where the walls near the two front corners are stitched to the downward bent ends of the bottom piece. The fourth station 19 comprises a second pair' of stitching heads where the sides are stitched near the two other corners. It will be later shown that the block 6 is turned half around in passing to the fourth station and the band is formed on the fourth side of the block and lapped onto the first side to be stitched thereto. The fifth station is the position of block 8 where the finished box is delivered to the operator and as shown bottom upward in Fig. 10.

It is to be observed that each of the forming blocks 4 to 15 are made with two spring metal strips 20 set in the face of the block. At the rear edge of the block these strips turn up at right angles with the face of the block as shown at 21 Figs. 4 and 5. These upturned ends are the proper height to engage one of the fiat bottom pieces 22 deposited in the box-like receptacle 16 and carry it out to become the bottom of a berry box. The stack of bottom pieces 22 drop down to the right level for the block 15 next following and so on for each block on the belt 1. It is to be noted that stack 21 rests holds it at the proper level for the forming blocks to pass thereunder and the upturned ends 22 to engage piece.

On the rear of receptacle box 16 are two 1 metal strips 24 extended toward station 17. These are each twisted from a horizontal at 16 to a vertical position at their rear ends where they bear closely against the sides of the block in position 5. These twisted metal strips bend the ends of the bottom piece down along the two sides of the block preparatory to receive the band wall piece deposited in front of the block 5 at the second station. The band wall pieces are placed on the bottom of the flat two sided box-like receptacle 17 as seen at 25. The bunch 25 is made to move to the right by means of the weights and cords 26 which operate the U shaped push bars 27 set to act against the movable wood bar 28. This "immediately to follow.

' between it and the forming blocks 4 to block so each can be movement causes 25 to bear against the stop lugs 29 and so positioned that the forward band rests beyond the edge of the bottom of 17. This forward Y front of block 5 by a metal blade 30 fixed on the horizontal beam 31 which is pulled down by the rods 32 actuated by the cams 33 at a time when the blocks 1 to 15 are at standstill. The springs 34 push 31 up Ward when released by cams 33 ready to push down the next band for the block 1 Block 5 is now moved to the position of block 6 having been pushed through a tunnel-like opening wherein the band is smoothly broken back against the two sides of the block and against the two ends of the bottom piece bent down thereon by the twisted metal strips 24..

The block at position 6 stops between the first pair of stitching heads 18 where the band isstitched to the ends of the bottom block and near the forward corners. These stitching heads 18 are commercial devices in common use and are not shown in detail.

It is to be observed that each of the I 15 are centrally mounted on a short tubular stem 35 with a small ear 36 on the inside of the carrier belt 1. his stem gives a pivoted mounting to each turned about on the belt 1. As the block 6 moves to the position of block 7, its gear comes in contact with a straight fixed gear 37 with the required number of cogs to turn the block one-half around. This turning of the block causes the band to be fitted against the fourth side of the block and over the end of the band on the first side, thus completing the forming of the box walls which are now stitched near the other two corners by the stitching heads he elongated curved block the fitting of the fourth side of the box,

38 causes the corners of the block passing close thereto as the block is turned in passing to position 7. The stop piece 39 causes the block to stop in a square position on the belt ready agar 40 In passing from the position 7 to for "the final stitches.

posi tion 8,}the gear36 engages a second fixed and is again turned another half around being stopped in a square position bythe side stop 4.1.

v The block is now in proper position to travel to the opposite end of the machine to repeat its service in "the making of another box therein.

In each of the blocks is small disk a sunken into its face and mounted on a stem 2) that extends through the tubular stem .35 on which each block is mounted.

' "spiral spring 0 inside the tubular stem 3 5holds the disk'a downflush with the face of the block as shown in Fig. 9.

band is pushed down in as shown in Fig. 9.

as to be easily received by the operator.

The box is thus delivered finished complete The foregoing sets of the operation of forming and making a box on my machine. the machine is driven by the pulley e2 with power belt thereon. The shaft 13 of this pulley has the cams 33 mounted thereon which operate the band placing mechanism.

mounted on this shaft, j

Thecams 1 1 are also and operate the stitching heads 18 and 19.

A crank wheel 45 is mounted on the opposite end of shaft 43, and by means of the crank rod 16 operates the ratchet arm e7 forth the several parts i It is to be observed 1,

and ratchet wheel 18 mounted on the shaft 19 of pulley 3. This ratchet 48 has the required number of notches to cause the belt 1 to travel and stop at proper intervals and the slotted ratchet arm enables the crank rod to be so adjusted as to obtain the desired distance in each travel of belt 1.

The ratchet operation of the belt 1 causes the belt to travel the desired distance and stop the required time for the several operations performed in the forming and structing of the berry boxes. The operation is regular'and continuous and requires no labor but the putting of the prepared material in place on the machine and the receiving of the finished boxes.

The belt 1 is of band steel. The blocks 4: to 15 are preferably of cast metal of suitable hardness.

It is to be noted the sides are made with of suitable heavy belting (s1 con- Q fiat concave grooves as indicated at 50 in G Figs. 1 and 5. The grooves cause the wires to clench effectively when put in by the stitching heads 18 and 19.

In constructing my machine I do not limit myself to certain materials nor to fixed dimensions but reserve the right to vary the same as circumstances may require.

It is to be observed the blocks are to be spaced at equal distances on the face of the belt so as to stop at the severalstations similarly spaced to operate in making the boxes thereon.

In Fig. 10 the bottom or the, at is indicated at cl, the Walls at e and the stitches at f.

' Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Pateritfisj- 1. A berr box 'Ina'chi'ne comprising a carrier belt with a multiple of blocks mountedthere'on, fixed stations provided with special mechanisms on the horizontal line of travel of said belt to place materials and construct berry boxes on said blocks, each of said blocks centrally mounted on a tubular stem with a small gear on the inner side of the belt, a fixed gear located between the third and fourth stations to engage the said gear and turn the block one-half around and complete the placing of the Wall band for the final stitching at the said fourth station as set forth and described.

2. A berry box machine comprising a carrier belt with a multiple of blocks mounted thereon, fixed stations provided with special mechanisms on the horizontal line of travel of said belt to place materials and construct berry boxes on said blocks, each of said blocks centrally mounted on a tubular stem with small gear on the inner side of said belt, a fixed gear between the it one-half around so as to be in position to receive materials and construct another berry box thereon as set forth and described.

3. A berry box machine comprising a carrier belt with a multiple of blocks mounted thereon, fixed stations provided with special mechanisms on the horizontal line of travel of said belt to place materials and construct copies fourth and. fifth stations tov engage said gear and turnberry boxes on said blocks, each of said blocks centrally mounted on a tubular stem with gear on the inner side of said belt, a disk sunk in center of the face of each of said blocks and said disk mounted on a stem passing through said tubular stem and gear and having an actuating spring inside said tubular stem as set forth and described.

4. A berry box machine comprising a car rier belt with a multiple of blocks mounted thereon, fixed stations provided with special mechanisms on the horizontal line of travel of said belt to place materials and construct berry boxes on said blocks, each of said blocks having a spring actuated stem mounted disk in the center of its face, said carrier belt mounted on a pair of centrally grooved pulleys, one of said pulleys having its groove less deep to cause the said spring actuated stems to ride thereon and thrust said disks up from the face of the said blocks and deliver the finished berry boxes into the hands of the operator as set forth and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. STEVENSON. Witnesses:

GORDON Pownns, M. F. PORTER.

of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

